Federal Grant Award Summary

The Pennsylvania State University received a $860,556 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Biological Infrastructure under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074), awarded August 15, 2026, with a completion date of July 31, 2030. The award funds development of computational methods and algorithms for accurately assembling full-length circular RNAs (circRNAs) from diverse RNA sequencing data. The research addresses critical technical challenges in identifying complete circRNA molecules from short-read and long-read RNA-sequencing platforms by creating a unified computational framework that improves detection sensitivity and reconstruction accuracy. Deliverables include highly sensitive algorithms that exploit previously underutilized sequencing signals and novel reference-free algorithms for reconstructing circRNAs from rolling circular long reads.

The project includes significant educational and outreach components that extend the impact of the research beyond the scientific community. Penn State will train undergraduate and graduate students in computational biology, engage K-12 teachers through the institution's Research Experiences for Teachers Program, and develop high school curriculum materials focused on genomic sciences. These tools and methods are intended to enable scientists to discover novel circRNAs, understand their biological functions, and identify circRNAs as potential biomarkers for cellular conditions and stress responses, thereby advancing fundamental knowledge in gene expression and cell biology.